Today, the Supreme Court announced a historic decision that overturns the disastrous precedent set in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. This decision represents a moment that we all have been praying for and working toward for decades. Many of you as pastors and ministry leaders are seeking to lead your people well in light of this momentous decision, as well as through the contentious times ahead for our nation.
We want to partner with you in this effort and have produced several resources to this end. Below is a statement you may want to use or adapt in order to communicate with your church about today’s Supreme Court ruling on the Mississippi abortion case.
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What has happened: The U.S. Supreme Court released a historic ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case on Friday, overturning the disastrous abortion precedent set by the court and sending abortion decision-making back to the states. We are now living on the backside of a deadly national legal environment that existed for nearly 50 years, under which over 60 million babies were aborted. This is a moment many have prayed and advocated for, and we thank God for his provision and for those who have worked tirelessly toward this day in our nation’s history.
What happens next: The question of abortion is now a state-by-state decision, and those who believe that life begins at conception must work to advance pro-life measures and create a culture of life so that the preborn are protected and families are supported in every state (Psa. 139:13-16). Out of love of God and for our neighbors, we must continue to advocate for just policies that honor the sacredness of life and seek to elect representatives that will enact laws to make abortion illegal, protect the preborn, serve abortion-vulnerable mothers, and criminalize abortion providers. (Mark 12:31).
Even as we work toward making abortion illegal in our states and our nation, the reasons why women seek abortion won’t change overnight. More than ever, women and families will need compassion, hope, and practical help to meet their needs (Col. 3:12). The work of pregnancy resource centers will be critical in each community and are central to the goal of supporting families. More children than ever will be in need of loving homes, whether that be through foster care, adoption, or supporting women in crisis who choose life. The Church has been called to and equipped for this very moment.
Keep in mind: Many in our midst bear the emotional and physical scars of abortion, whether they themselves have had an abortion or have participated in one. Let us cling to the truth of the gospel and the hope of our salvation in Christ that overcomes even our darkest stains. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). No matter our sin, God has told us “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psa. 103:12). Regardless of our pasts and our individual sins, we have all fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).
Satan is the accuser and delights in heaping on shame and sowing lies. In the days and weeks to come, we need to redouble our efforts to stand for the dignity of every human being, including the preborn. As believers, we must fight the accusations, shame, and lies with the truth of the gospel, rooted in love of God and neighbor (Matt. 22:37-39)
How we can pray:
- Praise to God for hearing our prayers and for rescuing more innocent lives from death, (Psa. 10:14-18)
- Pray for more laws to protect the preborn to be enacted and for the dignity of the preborn to be cherished throughout our communities, (Prov. 15:29)
- Pray that a robust culture of life would take root in our nation, making abortion not just illegal but unthinkable, (Isa. 44:24)
- Pray for the work of pregnancy resource centers, clinics, and churches in supporting women and families experiencing unintended pregnancies to continue and increase, (2 Cor. 9:8)
- Pray for those who have experienced or participated in abortion to know the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness of all sins for those who repent, (Rom. 8:1)
- Pray for the church to be a place of refuge for all who have been caught in the lies of the sexual revolution, (Psa. 14:1)
- Pray for peace in our nation and for the Lord to stem thoughts of violence, (James 3:18)
- Pray for more families to open their homes to foster care and adoption to serve children in need, (Matt. 18:5) and
- Pray that God would be glorified and his character would be displayed in all that we do and say in these critical days (Matt 5:16).
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We are standing with you in this moment. And it is our prayer that this guide will enable you to communicate well with those in your church so that they can go into your surrounding community as salt and light, serving the vulnerable and sharing the hope of the gospel.